A God of His Word - Papal Homily Fr. Cantalamessa

[BarbaraTherese]

zenit.org/article-23175?l=english

Father Raniero Cantalamessa is the Pontifical Household preacher. As often, this homily by the Papal preacher is worth the read and in this instance right through to the end where the “punch line” lay. On reading those final words it did remind me of how often I read something that I agree with and uphold and frequently fail in despite my agreeing and upholding. This reminded me of The Gospel at Mass when we pray, crossing our foreheads, lips and hearts “May The Holy Gospel be ever in my mind and on my lips and in my heart” and I hope the next time I am at Mass I will pray these words with particular attention asking The Lord to ever help me with His Grace to be true to what I agree with and uphold and to do so lovingly, and with Grace to return again and again to The Sacrament of Reconciliation with the “same old, same old” until, in Hope, the same old, same old are past tense…and probably replaced by the new. The dance of life…and the roller coaster ride. I am in the downslide at the moment and for two cents I’d walk away - yet never do to date…obviously it has to be because I have three cents of Grace keeping me in the dance.

From midway in the homily:
…"…From beginning to end, the Bible is no more than a message of the love of God for his creatures. The tones might change, from the angry to the tender, but the essence is always and only love.

God has used the word to communicate life and truth, to instruct and console. This poses the question: What use do we make of the word? In his play “Closed Doors,” Sartre has given us a striking image of what human communication can become when love is lacking…"…

I hear Pope Benedict will be apologizing to those abused by priests in Australia during his visit here (arrived today)…I hope the ears that hear will hear it as very sincere and meaningful to be reinforced by positive action, which will make that apology very real - and not a following of ‘fashion’ …the ‘in vogue’ and politically a good move…of what has became quite well known and praised, since our new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, very movingly apologized on behalf of Australia to our Aboriginal nation for the ‘lost generation’.

Lots of thoughts from Father’s homily!..

 

[InLight247]

Thanks Barb for posting the Homily by Fr. Cantalamessa.
I read it carefully and it indeed worths reading.
Like St. Paul said:

St. Paul gives Christians this golden rule in regard to words: “No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4, 29).

Our words should always be for edification, for building each other up, for bringing God’s grace into others’ lives. We ought to keep in mind that if we have nothing good to say, then say nothing. Even we are to be our brothers’ keepers, we have to keep in mind the proper boundary and the gentle way of approach.